Sienna barely slept that night.
Her mind was tangled in thoughts of Damien and Logan Pierce, both of them frustratingly powerful in their own ways. One was a threat, the other was an even bigger threat—just in a different way. She hated that Damien’s words stayed with her, that his warning about Logan wasn’t something she could just brush off. She hated even more that she had noticed his concern, that some part of her had wanted to lean into it. That was dangerous. She couldn’t afford to blur the lines. Because at the end of the day, this was a deal. Nothing more. Right? — By the time morning came, she was still exhausted. She dragged herself out of bed, wrapping Damien’s ridiculously expensive silk robe around her before heading toward the kitchen. And then— She froze. Damien was already there. And he was shirtless. Sienna swallowed hard. He stood by the counter, pouring himself coffee, his back muscles flexing with every movement. The sweatpants hung low on his hips, teasing just enough of his toned body to make her brain malfunction. For a second—just a second—she let herself look. And then he turned, catching her. His lips curved into a slow, knowing smirk. “Morning, sweetheart.” Sienna quickly looked away. Nope. Nope, nope, nope. She grabbed a glass of water and downed it, pretending that her throat wasn’t suddenly dry. “Put a shirt on,” she muttered, avoiding his gaze. Damien chuckled. “Why? Am I distracting you?” Sienna scowled. “You’re always distracting.” He grinned, leaning against the counter, watching her with far too much amusement. “Well, you’re not exactly subtle either, Mrs. Lancaster.” Sienna clenched her jaw. “Shut up.” Damien laughed, shaking his head. Sienna hated that sound. Because it made something in her chest tighten. And that? That was the real problem. — Later that evening, they attended one of Damien’s business events—one of those high-society gatherings where everyone pretended to like each other while secretly plotting. Sienna was getting used to playing her role. Smiling. Nodding. Looking like she belonged. But tonight? Tonight, she was hyper-aware of Damien. Of the way his hand rested on her waist. The way his touch burned through the fabric of her dress. The way he kept stealing glances at her, as if fighting something he didn’t want to name. And then— It happened. She turned toward him—ready to say something sarcastic, to break the moment— But Damien wasn’t listening. He was looking at her. His eyes dark, intense. Sienna’s breath caught. And then— He leaned in. And for the first time since this deal began— Damien kissed her. — At first, Sienna froze. Her mind screamed that this wasn’t real, that this was a mistake— But her body? Her body betrayed her. Heat flooded her veins as Damien’s lips moved slowly, deliberately against hers, as if testing, teasing. Her fingers curled into his suit jacket, her breath hitching as he deepened the kiss, erasing the space between them. Damien tasted like whiskey and control—like something forbidden. Something dangerous. And Sienna? She was drowning in it. — When they finally pulled apart, her lips tingled, her pulse racing. Damien’s gaze was heated, unreadable. Neither of them spoke. Neither of them moved. Because they both knew— Something had changed. Something they couldn’t take back. And that? That was the real danger. — Oh! These lovebirds 😂😂 Did you see this coming? Well there are still obstacles, Damien’s parents and now Logan a powerful businessman. What could he want?Sienna had no idea how fast everything could change. One minute, she was adjusting to life as Damien Lancaster’s wife—balancing between resisting him and falling deeper into something she wasn’t ready to name. The next, her past walked right back into her life. And he did it in the worst possible place. — The gala was exactly what Sienna had expected—opulent, grand, and filled with the kind of people who could buy and sell entire cities without blinking. She had handled it well, smiling when necessary, keeping her posture elegant, and pretending she belonged. But just as she was starting to feel like she could survive the night, she heard a voice she hadn’t expected. “Sienna?” Her entire body went rigid. She turned slowly, praying she had imagined it. She hadn’t. Nathan. Her ex-boyfriend. The man who had once promised her forever and left without a word. And judging by the way he was looking at her, he was just as shocked to see her. But not as shocked as
Sienna had told herself she wouldn’t get attached. She had promised herself that this was just a temporary arrangement—an agreement based on convenience, not emotions. And yet, as she lay awake in the enormous Lancaster estate, staring at the ceiling of her shared bedroom with Damien, she knew she was losing the battle against her own heart. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of the bedside lamp, casting shadows across the polished marble floors and the sleek, modern furniture that filled the space. It was the kind of luxury she had never imagined herself living in, yet here she was. And the strangest part? It wasn’t the wealth or the opulence that made her heart race. It was him. She turned her head slightly, eyes settling on Damien. He was asleep, his breathing slow and steady. In sleep, he looked different—softer, more vulnerable. Gone was the hardened expression he wore like armor during the day, the carefully controlled smirk that kept people at a distance. He was a myster
The morning sun spilled through the massive windows of the Lancaster estate, casting a golden glow over the bedroom. Sienna woke slowly, blinking against the light. For a brief, blissful moment, she forgot where she was. She forgot about the cold tension between her and Damien, the way her heart had started betraying her. But then she turned her head and saw him. Damien sat at the edge of the bed, his back to her, phone in hand. His shoulders were tense, his usual air of nonchalance absent. Even from behind, she could tell something was wrong. “Damien?” Her voice was groggy from sleep. He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his already tousled hair. Sienna sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest. “What’s going on?” Damien turned slightly, his expression unreadable. “My father called.” A chill ran down her spine. Richard Lancaster rarely called Damien directly. Whenever he had something to say, it was usually delivered through a lawyer
Sienna knew she should keep her distance. She had spent the entire day reminding herself that Damien Lancaster was not hers to hold on to. That whatever had been happening between them—whatever emotions had begun creeping in—was temporary. And yet, as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, she couldn’t stop thinking about the way he had touched her face. The way his fingers had brushed her skin like she was something delicate, something he wasn’t quite ready to let go of. It was dangerous. Because even if Damien hadn’t said it outright, she knew—deep down—he was struggling with his father’s ultimatum. One month. That was all the time they had left before he would be forced to choose. And she wasn’t foolish enough to believe he would choose her. Sienna turned onto her side, trying to push the thoughts away. But then she heard it—the faint sound of the bedroom door opening. Her breath caught. She didn’t have to turn around to know it was Damien. She could feel him.
Sienna woke to an empty bed. For a few moments, she lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince herself that last night had really happened. That Damien’s hands had really traced every inch of her body, that his lips had really whispered promises he’d never dare say in daylight. But the cold sheets beside her told her everything she needed to know. Damien was gone. A sinking feeling settled in her chest as she sat up, pulling the blankets around herself. She had known this would happen. She had told herself, Don’t expect anything. Don’t hope for more than what this is. And yet, as she looked around the room, a painful knot formed in her throat. He hadn’t even stayed. Sienna forced herself to push the thoughts away. It doesn’t matter. She had known better. She had always known better. Taking a deep breath, she climbed out of bed and reached for her robe, tying it around her waist before stepping out of the bedroom. The house was quiet, the soft morning light filterin
Sienna had thought things couldn’t get worse. She had been wrong. After a full day of enduring Damien’s coldness, after a full night of tossing and turning in an empty bed, she had convinced herself that the worst pain was already behind her. That nothing could hurt more than the way he had shut her out. But when she walked into the Lancaster estate’s grand dining room the next morning, her entire world came crashing down. Because there, spread across the front page of every major newspaper and plastered all over social media, was her. And the headline that accompanied her face made her stomach drop. DAMIAN LANCASTER’S WIFE: A GOLD-DIGGING LIAR? Sienna’s hands trembled as she grabbed the nearest tablet off the table, her eyes scanning the article so quickly she barely processed the words. Sources reveal that the new Mrs. Lancaster isn’t as innocent as she seems. Before her whirlwind marriage to the billionaire heir, Sienna Monroe was nothing more than a struggling waitress wit
Sienna stood in front of the grand mirror in the Lancaster estate’s main hallway, gripping the edges of the marble-topped console table so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her own reflection stared back at her, pale and strained, dark circles shadowing her hazel eyes. The scandal had spread like wildfire. Every news station, every social media platform—her name was everywhere. Liar. Gold digger. Social climber. The words clung to her skin like a stain she couldn’t wash off. She knew how people worked. They loved to tear someone down, to take a woman who didn’t fit their mold and rip her apart piece by piece. But she refused to let them break her. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and turned away from the mirror. She had spent too much of her life letting other people define her. Not anymore. She wouldn’t be a victim. She wouldn’t let this family—this world—swallow her whole. The whispers started as soon as she stepped into the dining hall. The room was
Sienna sat curled up in the corner of the Lancaster estate’s grand library, her fingers gripping the spine of an unread book. The quiet was suffocating. The house, with all its luxury and perfection, felt more like a prison than ever before. She had spent the past few hours trying to ignore the notifications flooding her phone—messages from numbers she didn’t recognize, reporters demanding a statement, old acquaintances suddenly remembering she existed. But the worst part? Damien hadn’t come back. After their fight in his study, he had disappeared—back into his world of high-powered meetings and corporate dominance, leaving her alone to deal with the aftermath of her public humiliation. A bitter laugh bubbled up in her throat. She had let herself fall for him. And now she was paying the price. Sienna shut her eyes, pressing the heels of her palms against them. She needed to stop thinking about him. She needed to— The sound of soft footsteps broke the silence. Sienna looked u
The video went live at exactly noon.Sienna sat in the Lancaster media office, staring directly into the camera as her voice rang steady through the live broadcast.“My name is Sienna Monroe, and I’m here to set the record straight.”No PR team spinning the narrative. No reporters twisting her words. Just her—facing the world on her own terms.She recounted the truth, laying it all out.Yes, Ethan had shown up at the gala. No, she hadn’t invited him. And no—she wasn’t having an affair. The so-called evidence was nothing more than a carefully manipulated setup, designed to destroy her reputation.And she made sure the world knew exactly who had the most to gain from it.“People like Richard Lancaster thrive on control,” she said, her voice unwavering. “And when they can’t control someone, they try to ruin them instead.”A calculated risk.Calling out Richard directly was dangerous. But if she was going down, she wasn’t going quietly.By the time she finished speaking, the internet was
Sienna didn’t remember leaving the gala.One moment, she was standing in front of Damien, heart splintering as he hesitated—again. The next, she was in the backseat of a car, staring blankly out the window as the city lights blurred past.Isabelle had been the one to pull her out of there.She had grabbed Sienna’s arm, whispered something about not giving the press any more to feed on, and led her straight to the waiting town car.Now, back at the Lancaster estate, the weight of everything pressed down on her like a crushing force.The scandal.The betrayal.The fact that Damien had looked at her and hesitated.Again.Sienna clenched her fists, pacing the length of the bedroom she and Damien shared.She had told herself she wouldn’t fight for him anymore.That she wouldn’t keep proving herself to someone who refused to believe in her.But this?This wasn’t just about Damien.This was about her name. Her reputation. Her life.And she refused to let Richard, Evelyn, or Ethan control tha
The Lancaster estate felt different in the days that followed.Sienna no longer sought out Damien. She no longer tried to get him to talk, to see her. Instead, she did exactly what Isabelle had told her to do—she let him figure it out on his own.And the silence between them stretched.At first, she thought it would be unbearable. That the distance would drive her mad.But surprisingly, it wasn’t.Because for the first time since stepping into this world, she wasn’t the one chasing.She wasn’t the one proving herself.Damien, however?He was struggling.She saw it in the way his eyes lingered on her when he thought she wasn’t looking. In the way his fingers twitched, like he wanted to reach for her but held himself back. In the way his jaw clenched whenever she walked past him without a word.But he didn’t break.And neither did she.At least, not until everything came crashing down.It started at the charity gala.Sienna should have known something was off the moment she stepped into
Sienna had spent the past few months in the Lancaster estate surrounded by wealth, power, and constant scrutiny. But tonight, for the first time, she had never felt more alone.The house was silent.Damien hadn’t come after her.Not when she left their bedroom. Not when she spent the entire day avoiding him. Not when she refused to join him for dinner, instead opting to stay locked in one of the guest rooms.Nothing.Not a single word.And that silence was louder than any argument they could have had.Sienna curled up on the plush armchair by the window, staring out at the city lights beyond the estate walls.She hated this.She hated the way her chest ached every time she thought about last night—the look in Damien’s eyes, the cold detachment in his voice, the way he had hesitated before believing her.She had trusted him.And he had let her down.Again.A soft knock at the door made her stiffen.Her pulse jumped, her breath catching in her throat. Damien?For a brief, foolish moment
By the time evening arrived, Sienna felt like she was walking through a minefield.The day had dragged on in agonizing silence, every moment stretching unbearably long as she waited for the inevitable explosion. She had no idea if Damien had seen the photos yet—if Richard or Evelyn had placed them in his hands, twisting the narrative before she even had a chance to explain.But she felt it coming.The storm.And she knew when it hit, there would be no stopping it.She paced in their bedroom, the dim glow of the bedside lamp casting long shadows along the walls. The air felt thick, suffocating. Her nerves buzzed with anxiety, but she refused to let herself break down.She had made a decision this morning.She wasn’t running.And no matter how much Richard and Evelyn wanted her gone, she wasn’t leaving.A sharp knock on the door made her pulse jump.And then—Damien.He stepped inside, his presence like a force of nature, dark and overpowering. He was still in his suit from the day’s mee
The Lancaster estate was unnervingly quiet the next morning.Sienna sat at the grand breakfast table, absently stirring her coffee as her mind replayed the events of last night. Damien’s words, his touch, the way he had let her in for the first time—it all still lingered in her chest, warm and confusing.He had admitted that she wasn’t just a business deal anymore.That she mattered to him.And even though he hadn’t said the words outright, she could feel the shift between them.But now, in the cold light of morning, reality came crashing back.The scandal.The whispers.And worst of all—the fact that Richard Lancaster was still waiting for her to fail.Sienna exhaled, setting her coffee down with a soft clink. She needed to stay focused. She couldn’t afford to get distracted by Damien—not when there were still people in this house who wanted her gone.As if summoned by the thought, a voice broke the silence.“You certainly seem comfortable here.”Sienna looked up, her stomach twistin
The car ride back to the Lancaster estate was thick with silence.Damien sat beside Sienna in the backseat, his posture tense, his hands resting on his thighs as if he were barely restraining himself. His jaw was tight, his gaze fixed on the darkened streets passing by the tinted windows.Sienna, still reeling from the confrontation with Ethan, stole a glance at him.He hadn’t spoken since they left the gala.Not after he had nearly choked her ex in front of a crowd of reporters.Not after he had grabbed her hand and all but dragged her to the car, ignoring every prying eye on them.The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.She hated it.“You didn’t have to do that,” she finally said, her voice quiet but firm.Damien’s fingers twitched, but he didn’t look at her. “Yes, I did.”Sienna swallowed hard. “You almost lost control, Damien. You don’t think Ethan’s going to use that against us?”His lips pressed into a thin line. “Let him.”Sienna let out a sharp breath. “Damien.”Finally,
The rest of the night was a blur of forced conversations and polite smiles. Sienna moved through the crowd with practiced ease, pretending she wasn’t suffocating under the weight of the night’s events. Richard had tried to humiliate her, to expose her weaknesses in front of the media, but she had refused to break. Still, she knew the battle was far from over. “Impressive performance,” a deep voice murmured beside her. Sienna turned, finding herself face to face with a man she didn’t recognize. He was tall and sharply dressed, with the kind of easy confidence that only came from old money. His green eyes glimmered with amusement as he raised his glass toward her. “You really put Richard in his place,” he continued, smirking. “I have to say, I didn’t expect that.” Sienna arched a brow. “And you are?” He chuckled, extending a hand. “Julian Rothschild. A distant relative of your husband’s. Unfortunately.” Sienna hesitated before shaking his hand. “Ah, so you’re the infamous wife
Sienna had spent the past few weeks navigating Lancaster politics, but nothing about this world felt any easier. The weight of the scandal still lingered, whispers following her everywhere she went. And now, with Richard’s veiled threats hanging over her, the tension had only gotten worse. Tonight was supposed to be a rare moment of escape. The charity gala was being held at one of the city’s most prestigious venues—a grand ballroom adorned with gold chandeliers and crystal centerpieces. It was the kind of event where appearances mattered more than substance, where the elite gathered under the guise of generosity while secretly competing to outshine one another. Sienna had expected the usual—cold glances from the Lancaster circle, reporters subtly prying for gossip, Damien maintaining that carefully crafted distance between them. What she hadn’t expected… was Julian Rothschild. “Sienna.” She turned at the sound of his voice, finding him leaning casually against the bar, a knowin